Ratchet-wrench.



J. H. DODGE.

RATCHET WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-17, I915.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

WiTnesses.

:m: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH .C0., WAsmNuTON, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

J'OH'N H. DODGE, OE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR T0 LOUIS C. SMITH, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS, AND HARRY R. SINCLAIR AND JOHN H. DODGE, BOTH OE WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, TRUSTEES.

BATCHET-WRENCH.

Application med March 17,

To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that I, JOHN H. Donen, a citizen. of the United States, residlng at Worcester, county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Ratchet-Wrenches, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specifica- .tion, like characters on the drawing representing like parts. i v

This invention relates to ratchetwrenches of that type which can be convertedinto either a right-hand or a left-handwrench, and the objects of the invention are to provide a novel wrench of this nature which is manufacture, in which the means for throw- .panying drawings a selected embodiment "i'ng either of the pawls into or out of oper- 9.131011 extends longitudinally of the handle and is operable from the end thereof and is constructed so that the wrench can be changed from a right-hand to a left-hand wrench by a half turn of the operat ng means, and which has such .a construct on that said operating means will not be 1njured by a blow struck/on the end of the handle, and which has other advantages all as will be more fully hereinafter described.

In order to give an understanding of my invention I have illustrated in the accomthereof which will now be 'described after which the novel features will be pointed out in the appended claims. I 4

Figure 1 is a vien of the-wrench with one of the cap platesremoved to show the socket piece and pawlsin plan view, saidfigure showing the pawls adjusted. so that the wrench will operate as a right-hand ratchet wrench; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the pawls adjusted so that the wrench wlll operate as a left-hand wrench Fig.3 s a section on the line 3-3, Fig. 1; Fig. 4 1s a section on the line 4- l, Fig. 1.

The wrench comprises the usual body member 1 constructed with the handle portion 2 and the head or socket-receiving portion 3 in which the wrench socket 1 is rotawhich coiiperate with the pawls 6 and 7 Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

1915. Serial No.14,991.

'that are pivotally mounted in the body 1,

each pawlbeing acted upon by a spring 8 which tends to move it into operative position.. The pawls may be pivotally secured to the body member in any suitable way and as herein shown each pawl is provided I at its end with a rounded head 9 which fits in a correspondingly-shaped socket 10, said head permitting the pawls to have the requisite rocking movement. The socket member 41s ofiusual construction, and is.

confined in position by meansof aremovable cap plate 11 which, however, has been removed in Figs. 1 and 2. The parts thus far described are or may be suchj'as are usually found in ratchet wrenches of .this

type and form no part of myrpresent invention. I In ratchet wrenches of this type. it is customary] to provide some controlling means by which either of the pawls 6 or 7 can be thrown out of Operative engagement with the socket piece 4, depending on whether it is desired to turn the nut. or

other part to which the socket piece is applied in a right-hand or left-hand direction. It .will be understood, of course. that if the pawl 6 is in operative engagement with the socket piece 4: and the pawl7 is held" in inoperative position, as shown in Fig. 1, a turning movement of the handle in the direction of the arrow awill turn 7 either pawl can be quickly thrown into or out of operative position andwhich is constructed so that it will not be injured by dropping the wrench on the floor or any ordinary abuse to which the wrench may be subjected. The controlling means for the pawls comprises a shaftv ,12 extending longitudinally of the handle portion 1, the

latter being made hollow for this purpose, and provided at its inner end with a projection l3, herein shown in the form of a pin, which is so constructed and situated that as the shaft 12 isturned in one direcgagement with the socket piece, as shown by dotted lines Fig. 2, and the socket piece is locked from movement in either direction.

The shaftl2 has at its outer end a head 14 provided with a knurled thumb-piece 15 by which it is turned, and this head is received in a socket 16 formed in the end of the handle 2, the head resting against a shoulder 17 at the inner end of the socket. This constitutes the bearing for the outer end of the shaft. The inner end of the shaft extends through an aperture in the portion 18-of the a body member 1 and across a slot or passageway 19 in which the pin 13 operates, and intoa. socket 20 formed in the portion 21 of the body portion. This makes a firm bearing for the inner end'of the shaft. Therprojection 13 is preferably removably secured to the shaft, and this may conveniently be done by making it in the form of a pin which is screw-threaded into the shaft. The pin 13thus not only operates as a means for throwing either pawl outof its operative po sition, but by its cooperation Withthe portion 18 of the body member,it provides means for holding the shaft 12 in operative position. The shaft can be removed when desired by simply unscrewing the pin 13. The head 14 is fast to the shaft and because of the fact that it fits the socket 16 and engages the shoulderl7 any blow which may be received by the head 14 will betransmitted directly to the handle 2, thus preventing any injury to the projection 13. If, therefore, the wrench should be accidentally dropped on the floor and should strike on the knurled head 14 no injury can be done to the pawloperating means. This is an important advantage because wrenches of thisnature are often carelessly handled. I have also provided means for yieldingly holding the shaft 12 in its different adjust-ed positions. This is herein accomplished by making the shaft with the three flat faces 22, 28 and 24, and providing a flat spring member 25 which is adapted to engage said flat faces. This spring member 25 is shown as supported at its ends on seats 26 formed in the body memher 1, the central portion of the spring be-' ing unsupported so that it can yield as the shaft 12 isturned. Thespring 25 is held from movement longitudinally of the shaft. by having, the ends; thereof received in notches 27 formed in the sides of thebody member 1. V lVhen the shaft 12 isturned the corner between two adjacent fiat sides will flex thespring 25 and the resiliency ofthe of its latter will hold the shaft in either three positions. r

, The wrench is very simple in its construction and is easily manufactured and assembled. It has the further advantage thatit can be changedfrom a right to a left hand instrument by simply giving the shaft 12 a 'half turn, and it has the further advantage that the, pin or projection 13 by which the pawls are operated cannot beinjured or bent by dropping the implement or by anyblow which may be deliveredagainst the endof the handle.

While I have illustrated herein a selected,

shown. a

I claim:

embodiment of my invention, I do notwish to be limited to the constructional features" 1. In a ratchet wrench, the combination with a body member havinga handle portion and socket-receiving. portion, (of a socket piece rotatably mounted 1n the socketreceiving portion, two oppositely-disposed pawls cooperating with said socket piece,a. shaft extending longitudinally of the handle, 7

and a projection rigid with and extending laterally from saidshaft and adapted to be brought into direct engagement with Q either pawl by turning movement of the shaft, said projection also engagingthe frame to retain 1 i the shaft inpositio 2-. In a ratchet wrench, the combination withfa body membenhaving a handle por- 7 tion and a socketrreceiving portion, of'a socketpiece rotatably mounted in the socketreceiving portion, two oppositely-disposed spring-pressed pawls, ashaft extending longitudinally of the handle portion, the latter being provided with a shouldered s socketat its end, a head fixedly secured to thefshaft andreceived insaid socket,-and a projection rigid withand extending laterally from said shaft and adapted to engage directly one or theiother of the pawls as'the shaft is turned, saidprojection also engaging the frame to retain the-shaft in position. 1

3.-In a ratchet wrench, the combination with a body memberhaving a handle poi tion and a socket-receiving portion, of, a; socket piece rotatably mounted in the socketshaft extending longitudinally of the handle receivingportioh, two oppositely-disposed. pawls'cooperatmg with said socket piece, a

a projection extending'laterally from said shaft and adapted to bebrought into engagement with either pawl by turning movename to this specification, in the presence of ment of the shaft, said shaft having flattWo subscribing Witnesses. tened aces and a spring sustained by the body member and cooperating with said flat- JOHN DODGE 5 tened faces to hold yieldingly said shaft in Witnesses:

adjusted position. KARL J. EKMAN,

In testimony whereof I have signed my LUDWIG K. HEDENSTAD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained tor five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 01' Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

